Curfew continues in Sirsa, forces conduct flag march

Chandigarh: Curfew continued to remain in force on Sunday in Haryana's Sirsa, with paramilitary forces conducting flag marches in the town, where clash between followers of Dera Sacha Sauda and a group of Sikhs left 12 persons injured.

"The paramilitary forces have been deployed in Sirsa to help maintain peace. Flag march was conducted by the forces this morning and the situation is peaceful," Sirsa's Deputy Commissioner, J Ganesan said.

He said the curfew continues to remain in force in Sirsa and appealed to residents not to step out of their homes. He assured them that law and order and peace would be maintained.

When asked about religious congregation held on Sundays at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, Ganesan said it was going on inside the Dera premises.

Saturday's incident took place near Balmiki Chowk when followers of the religious sect clashed with some Sikhs who were on their way back from a meeting in Gurdwara Dashmi Patshahi, police said.

Among those injured included Sant Gurmeet Singh Trilokiwala, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

Police said two jeeps and four motorcycles were set on fire by the mob, which also indulged in stone pelting. The clash took place barely days after the Sikhs had allegedly showed black flags in Ellenabad to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh while he was on way to Rajasthan, sources said.

Heavy police force and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the town to prevent any untoward incident.

Additional force has been deployed in sensitive locations of the town including areas around Gurdwara Dashmi Patshai, Balmiki Chowk, Shiv Chowk and Begu Road, they said.